A Stalemate

Chapter 4

Vedh's POV

My shoes stepped on the white sand and I immediately felt so free. The wind coming from the sea was cold and the lively chatting made me feel like there was more for me to discover.

So this is the feeling of excitement...

"Wow! Ang ganda! Ang laki!" maligayang sabi ni Nana kasabay ng kanyang pagtalon-talon.

It's only been 2 minutes since we arrived in Fierdale University but I've began feeling so better right away.

"So this is Fierdale University," si Lance.

"It's certainly beautiful but it doesn't matter. A pretty little thing can destroy you soon enough," sabi ni Delphine.

Nana, Lance, and Viella were surprised that she spoke. I mean I'm surprised but at the same time I'm just not. She'll eventually speak even a little after her long silence.

Viella yawned. "So ano na gagawin natin ngayon? Inaantok ako."

Binuklat ni Lance ang student handbook na binigay sa amin. I think he's hoping to look for information sa susunod na gagawin namin.

"There's a note. It says: "All students must come to the main gym before the clock strikes 5:00 pm."

Tiningnan ko ang student handbook ko and confirmed his words.

Soon enough we started walking towards the main gym. Our phones has an installed app about Fierdale University which includes a map of the entire campus. It was passed on to us through bluetooth or Share It after signing the papers. The only downside is that it tracks everything you do on your phone. If you delete it, you're immediately kicked out of school.

"Grabe, pagod na ako," reklamo ni Nana.

"Ang dami yatang nasayang na energy kanina kakatalon mo eh," asar ni Lance sabay tawa.

Hinampas ni Nana si Lance at nagkunwari itong nasaktan at nilagay ang kamay sa brasong hinampas ng babae.

"Aray. Biolente kang babae ha!"

Delphine's left eye twitched. I wonder why...

She started stumping away from us and walking faster.

"Anong problema no'n?" takang tanong ni Viella.

Nagkibit-balikat ako at sinundan ang babaeng nagmamadaling lumayo sa amin.

"What was that?" tanong ko nang makalapit sa kanya.

She looked at me and raised her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"Your eye twitched noong nag-uusap si Lance at Nana."

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at pinagkrus ang mga kamay niya.

"Why are you so nosy? Mind your own business. Matutulungan ka no'n," irita niyang sambit.

"Okay. You're right." Binitawan ko na ang mga tanong na nabubuo sa aking isip. Ngunit kasabay rin noon ay may agad akong napansin.

Maya-maya lang may isang anino na dumaan sa harapan naming dalawa. Mabilis itong tumatakbo at sinundan ng dalawa pang anino.

"Hurry up, you two! Maglunch muna tayo. It's only 2:00 pm!" sigaw ni Lance sa harap namin.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. I don't want to use so much energy.

Delphine and I walked in a fast pace and my suspicions started getting stronger but not enough to conclude it.

Nang makarating kami sa isang restaurant ay naupo agad kami sa isang lamesa at nagsimula na kaming mag-order and yes, you heard it right. There's a restaurant here. Since we can't leave here immediately, they provide us everything we want from convient stores to malls to zoos and even money.

"I'll have chicken alfredo and and an orange juice," dinig kong sabi ni Viella sa waiter.

"So, let me repeat all your orders. One spicy shirmp pasta, one caesar salad, steamed lobster, a chicken alfredo, and four orange juices, is that right?" sabi ng waiter.

"Ahh, kuya...hindi pa po nakakaorder si Vedh..." pahabol ni Nana.

She's right though. The problem here is that I'm not easily noticed. May be because my head's always down or I'm a bit socially awkward or hindi lang talaga ako flashy to notice.

"Ohh, sorry po sir! May I please have your order?"

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako at ngumiti ng tipid. "I'll just have a chicken teriyaki and water. Please include a half cup of rice. Thank you."

Tumango ang waiter at muling humingi ng tawad bago na umalis para asikasuhin ang mga order namin.

"Damn. You should learn to speak up pag gano'n," komento ni Lance at tiningnan ko lang siya ng blanko.

"So, paano nga ulit natin 'yon babayaran? Mamaya pa kasi ibibigay 'yong gagamitin nating pera dito sa loob tapos ang binigay lang sa aking allowance ay 5,000 so..." nag-aalalang sabi ni Nana.

"Don't worry! I have money. Kung kulang ang pera mo, I'll just pay for you. My treat," Viella offered.

Nana seemed to hesistate before nodding and just smiled widely at the girl. "Pasensya ka na ha. Bawi ako next time, promise!" I squinted my eyes but just ignored them in the end.

"It's no big deal!"

Nang dumating ang mga pagkain namin agad kaming kumain at nagbayad at dumiretso na sa main gym. There are 5 big gyms in this university, one being the biggest and the main, plus 10 smaller gyms.

Naupo na kaming lima sa mga upuan sa harap ng stage. We're quite near the stage so we got lucky.

We arrived at around 3:50 pm and we still have a lot of time to spare.

"Ang dami pa nating free time. How about the five of us get to know each other?" suhestiyon ni Nana.

Tumango kaming tatlo at inignora lang siya ni Delphine na nagbabasa ng isang libro. I think it was a History book.

I don't know if Lance and Viella noticed it pero her eyes were coated with anger bago ito bigla na lang parang nawala.

She really has problems with Delphine at this point.

"Well...I'm Maria Nana Garcia. I excell in History and Literature. Pangarap kong maging teacher pati maging researcher at makapagtayo ng sarili kong school." She has big dreams, huh?

"I'm Viella Liana Madrigal. I excell in Social Studies, Writing, Chemistry, and Physics. I dream of becoming a famous journalist and to have my own team who studies Science. Sort of a team of Scientists. Lastly, I love making friends and baking." She sounds like your typical friendly and outgoing famous girl in school na crush ng lahat.

"I'm Lancelot Brantley Adams. I excell in all kinds of sports but I mostly play American Football, Skating, Basketball, and Air Hockey." So he's an athlete, basically...

Nagkibit-balikat ako. I have a feeling there's more to Lance at Nana than they're telling about...and wait...isn't Lance an heir to a huge company?

"I'm Vedh Ezequiel Montenegro. I have Spanish and Filipino blood. I don't particularly excell in big things like you guys. But I do practice designing along with playing the guitar and violin."

"Eh? That's fine. I'm sure you're good at what you do, Vedh!" sabi ni Viella. I think she's trying to comfort me. But I don't really care that I don't excell in such things.

We passed time by asking each other questions and getting to know each other. After a few more minutes, the stage light up and there stood the headmaster of our school along who seems to be our teachers along with Ms. Villegas and Mr. Dizon.

"Welcome to Fierdale University! Without futher a do, let's start the opening of our school year!"